In an attempt to combat flooding in the state, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has launched an enforcement campaign to reclaim a crucial drainage route in Ojota and Ogudu known as the System 1 Drainage route midstream.

Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner of the Ministry, revealed this in a post on Monday. Wahab tweets under the handle tokunbo_wahab on X.com.

According to him, an examination on Sunday found that property owners were erecting new buildings inside the approved areas.

According to Wahab, System 1, which was founded in 1974, is the principal channel that is most responsible for addressing issues linked to flooding in several areas of the Lagos mainland, such as Ogudu, Ojota, Ifako, Gbagada, and Maryland.

He wrote, “Yesterday, I led the management on an inspection tour to the enforcement sites of the ongoing reclamation of 140 meters Right of Way for System 1 Drainage Channel midstream (Odo Iya Alaro) Ojota and Ogudu to ascertain the level of compliance by property owners and the extent of work.

“This drainage channel, which is very important to Lagos State, will address major flooding issues on the mainland and its environs.”

According to Wahab, property owners in the region have been served with violation letters since 2021 in an effort to promote voluntary compliance; yet, some have ignored the notices and have carried on with building within the approved area.

He added, “The state had been having discussions with property owners/residents since 2021, and the conversation ended in November 2023.

“Contravention notices have been served to owners of buildings lying within 140 metres of System 1 since 2021, but we found out that people have gone back to encroaching on the right of way and alignments.

“The property owners whose buildings fall within the approved 140 meters Right of Way of the channel had been given the option of voluntary compliance for almost three years.

“Some of the property owners continued with the construction of new buildings that surfaced in the areas now.”

Wahab further said that substantial maintenance dredging at Okota’s Faseun Bridge System 6E, which is off Ago Palace Way, is scheduled to begin by the Ministry.

The purpose of this dredging is to enhance water flow and eliminate debris that builds up beneath the bridge and causes flooding.

Last week, Wakadaily News revealed that the Lagos State government has started dredging in the Ikorodu area, focusing on the main waterway in Awobo Estate, in response to flooding risks.

According to reports, the move is a major step toward preventing future calamities and guaranteeing the protection of local citizens.